New SIM card registration exercise will be human centred, tech driven – Sam George

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, has reassured Ghanaians about the upcoming SIM card registration. He promises it will be seamless, human-centered, and technology-driven.

Speaking on Citi FM's Eyewitness News on April 9, he highlighted the government's commitment to improve upon past efforts. He criticized the previous administration for failing to meet key performance indicators during their SIM re-registration exercise.

Sam George noted a rise in SIM-related fraud since that earlier effort. He assured the public that the new process would be clean and efficient. Advanced technology will ensure a stress-free experience for all participants.

"This is a human-centered, technology-driven exercise," George stated. "It will happen so seamlessly that many Ghanaians will wonder why they endured eight years of mismanagement."

Background of SIM Card Re-registration

The SIM card re-registration initiative began in 2021 under the Akufo-Addo government. It faced challenges and had multiple deadline extensions due to low participation rates.

All SIM card holders were required to re-register using the Ghana Card, the official national identity document. Despite efforts to encourage registration, millions of active SIM cards remained unregistered.

This situation raised concerns about data security and fraudulent registrations through mobile applications. The government's main goal was to enhance national security by reducing crimes linked to unregistered SIM cards.

Additionally, they aimed to improve industry regulation by creating a reliable database of valid SIM cards. These measures are expected to lead to a safer telecommunications landscape in Ghana.